Utica Coffee raising money for Kelberman Center

April is Autism Awareness Month, and to show its support, Utica Coffee Roasting Co. has a special sale of its Brazil coffee to help benefit a local agency.

"What better way to celebrate than to offer this limited edition Brazil coffee bag," the business announced on its Facebook page earlier this month. "For every bag sold we will donate $2 to the Kelberman Center."

Corri Lenaghen of Utica Coffee said she was approached by a board member from the Kelberman Center to try and raise money and awareness about autism through a coffee promotion. The Kelberman Center is devoted to helping individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families.

"When I brought it to Frank (Elias) and Heather (Delia), there was no hesitation," she said.

So far, the fundraiser has been a success and Lenaghen said that at least 400 labels have been used, and she's hoping they might even sell out of the limited Brazil stock. The sales bolster the company's committment to autism awareness and build off of a promotion using puzzle piece drink stoppers, which is the symbol associated with autism.

"We were talking about Autism Awareness Month a couple of weeks ago and we were using these puzzle piece stoppers," Lenaghan said. "We thought we could do one step better and to help out a local agency. We designed the label and we've had to reprint the labels a couple of times."

The Brazil coffee bags are available in the Utica and Clinton cafes.

Follow @OD_Bostick on Twitter or call her at 315-792-5013.

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